The 2003 "Solutions" scheme referendum specifically stated WESTPARK 6.6 miles.  The graphic depicted the line running south of the Wheeler station, along the south line of the U.S. Hwy 59 R-O-W out to the Hillcroft TC.  No other route calculates to 6.6 miles.

In a study document, RICHMOND Avenue had specifically been taken off the table.  "UNIVERSITY LINE" was never voted on.

This is the worst kind of "Bait and Switch" abuse Houstonians could ever be subjected to, and clearly violates Texas law, long settled by the Texas Supreme Court.  The two Texas Supreme Court cases are cited in a TXOAG Opinion:

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/opinions/op50abbott/ga-0156.htm

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"Texas courts have held that the express terms of resolutions and orders calling a tax or bond election, at which voters are asked to approve financial undertakings of a governmental body relating to the purposes for which funds shall be used, become a contract with the voters who are entitled to receive substantially all of the benefits and security of that contract. See, e.g., San Saba County v. McCraw, 108 S.W.2d 200 (Tex. 1937); Fletcher v. Howard, 39 S.W.2d 32 (Tex. 1931) (bond proceeds may not be diverted from highway described in county order as it existed on date of election); Black v. Strength, 246 S.W. 79 (Tex. 1922) (bond proceeds may not be diverted from improvements designated in order adopted subsequent to election order but prior to election); Moore v. Coffman, 200 S.W. 374 (Tex. 1918) (bond-financed bridge must be constructed at location designated in election order); Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. Nos. GA-0049 (2003) at 3, JC-0400 (2001) at 4-5."

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Further, after a 2001 Houston City Charter vote back in 2001 made it absolutely clear that METRO can not run the tram down Richmond without a specific

majority vote.

See Article II, Section 21.

http://www.houstontx.gov/charter/charter-2.pdf

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Section 21, METRO rail system projects.

City Council shall not hereafter grant any permission, consent, or authorization required by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) in connection with the construc-tion, maintenance, or operation of all or part of a rail system unless METRO previously has con-ducted an election at which a majority of the METRO voters who participated in the election approved construction of the rail system.  Such City permission, consent,  or  authorization shall not be subject to any election under this charter.  The construction, maintenance,  or  operation of the rail system project described in Ordinance 2000-1028 shall not be subject to any election by the City or METRO under this section  or any other section of this Charter.

(Added by amendment November 6, 2001)

Royko,

Oh, come on! Your moment of truth has arrived, and you risk blowing it by rehashing old material?

Where's your pride, man?! Stick with those sound bites because we all know that when something is repeated often enough that it becomes truth.

Let's try one more time before the big board meeting. This time, though, give it all you've got by using all of your favorite terms in one sentence.

No cheating, now.

In a complete sentence, use all of the following terms:

"Metreaux; boondoggle; leftist baloney; Metro scheme; sheeple; precious taxpayer resources; urban rail empire; unsafe, unreliable and underutilized tram; the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped formerly bus transit dependent riders"

For extra credit, include all of the following terms:

"bait and switch; nanny state; European-socialist transit systems; bum; thin-skinned, pro-urban rail lemming; cradle-to-grave bureaucracy"

Remember: What you do next will affect our lives and the very future of Houston as a viable city where young people, even those who don't propagate our species, can live.

Do not fail us.

Objecting to the University line route that METRO is now advocating isn't just about being "for" or "against" light rail.  It's objecting to voting for one thing and getting something completely different.  

In November 2003, many people voted for METRO's light rail project with the knowledge that an easement existed east of Kirby, on the southside of US-59, which provided a construction pathway by which to link Westpark Dr. and the Main Street Line.  As the diagram on the ballot showed a straight line on the south side of US-59, it was logical that this was the route we were being asked to approve. This belief was enforced by the fact that "Richmond" was not mentioned on the ballot and had previously been rejected as a light rail path.

The "University Line" that the METRO Board is pushing for is not what was approved by voters.  Accoringly, the City Charter dictates that it should not be built on city streets.  It is unbelieveable that the Mayor and City Council are not putting a stop to this and that the METRO Board is voting on anything.

If METRO wants to build light rail on Richmond Ave., and the voters approve it, then so be it.  But until then, METRO should stop moving the project forward.

In the meantime, we should start using the millions of street improvement dollars that METRO has been "holding" to do just that - improve and build streets.

we recently got ATT U-verse.  It has 2 municipal channels on it but neither is the one that shows meetings.  Metro might see about getting that channel on the ATT grid, tho it might be more a city of Houston thing.  Regardless, no entertainment there.

I saw our new bus shed at Hearth and Westridge.  My husband likes it.  I am waiting to get a Q card before I have occasion to use it.

And on the Q card, only Randall's is selling the Q card when it becomes available in November? Not Kroger too?

Jenny,

I plan on speaking tommorrow, and will try to convince the BOD to stop these shenanigans.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.  I hope the vote is at least postponed.

Royko said:

"I plan on speaking tommorrow, and will try to convince the BOD to stop these shenanigans."

Thank you for your fight, Royko. Good luck!

Also, I like amoore's well-stated comment.

Jenny -- thank you. So, so very much.

For the people complaining that they are not doing what we voted for, I would suggest that next time you read the actual ballot and don't assume what they are planning.  I think the following explains it best :

Westpark was named in the ballot of the 2003 special election as a travel corridor to serve southwest Houston.  Nowhere in the ballot is it specified that the Westpark line would be on Westpark Drive.

The ballot also included language to clarify that the "final scope, length of rail segments or lines and other details, together with implementation schedule, will be based upon demand and completion of the project development process, including community input."

Please note that the text on the ballot describes the Westpark segment as extending, "westward from the Wheeler Station on Phase I Metro Rail to the Hillcroft Transit Center".

I'm all for the Metro plans...

Now...if you guys could just strike up a deal with the Cites of Deer Park and Pasadena for some of the nice commuter rail...

Up with Richmond rail! :)

Richmond has needed a rebuild for years...4-6 lanes of crazy drivers...and think about it..Richmond will get a lot of publicity as the train rolls through...

<subliminal message> Commuter rail to Deer Park... </subliminal message>

I'm a suburbanite who never like to ride Metro bus.  But ever since Metro installed LRT in downtown and bike rack on local buses, I LOVE to ride the buses now.  To those naysayers, move and live with it; your children and children's children will thank Metro years from now.

Well, Richmond most of the way from Main to West Oaks Mall is like driving the Baja 1000.  It would knock the front end off a Hummer.

To the "naysayers," you lose this round so suck up to the decision(s) METRO has made and move on.  You can't always have your way.  Thank you!!!

Mr. Collins,

The issue is not settled yet.

Whatever, Royko.  It is to me and if there's a problem, then you need to go to the nation's capital and complain there.  Maybe someone there will actually listen to you and follow up on your inquiries.  I'll say this again, naysayer:  Suck up to the decision(s) METRO has made and move on.  You can't always have your way.  Thank you!!!

The Utopian plan is not a "Done Deal."  They still need to dupe the FTA with the ENRON-type accounting and new fangled number massaging so as to try and make a pork-barrel wasteful Utopian Rail EMPIRE plan look as if it will pass muster with minimal transit performance criteria.

With a modicum of scrutiny, METREAUX's Urban Rail EMPIRE scheme may not meet the FTA various tests.

"The Utopian plan is not a "Done Deal."  They still need to dupe the FTA with the ENRON-type accounting and new fangled number massaging so as to try and make a pork-barrel wasteful Utopian Rail EMPIRE plan look as if it will pass muster with minimal transit performance criteria.

With a modicum of scrutiny, METREAUX's Urban Rail EMPIRE scheme may not meet the FTA various tests."

Why must you put Enron into this equation?  METRO and Enron are two different things.  With your "wannabe" knowledge AGAINST METRO, you should already know that.

I said this once; I said this twice; I'll keep saying it again until you FINALLY get it.  If you have a serious problem with what METRO does with your money, by all means---GO TO WASHINGTON, DC AND COMPLAIN THERE!  If METRO would ever listen to you for once and bow down to you, then I'm in the WRONG city!

Mr. Collins,

Yes I do have a serious objection to the abuse METREAUX continues to heap upon the poor, minority, elderly, and handicapped bus transit dependent riders throughout the service area du to the ill-devised rail-centric policy that shortchanges all Houstonians.

Each and every day, there are more and more citizens crying out at the injustice METREAUX represents, and vowing to work to restore the critical bus service by reducing the enourmous levels of taxpayer funds squandered on wasteful urban rail.

"If you have a serious problem with what METRO does with your money, by all means---GO TO WASHINGTON, DC AND COMPLAIN THERE!"

That certain comment still stands.  You want to know why more people are crying out for bus service---especially when it WAS already there and now gone?  They're NOT smart enough to get their fellow neighbors to ride METRO.  Don't you know that METRO wastes their time putting a route somewhere and then you see an almost empty bus on that route?  Something's wrong with that picture.  Why don't you tell me how to fix that problem.  Thanks.